Beth Mead, Sarina Wiegman and England Women victorious at BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2022

BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2022 was a night to remember for England Women as the Lionesses, their coach Sarina Wiegman and star forward Beth Mead all picked up awards.

The main award of the night went to Mead as she became the first women’s footballer to ever receive the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, which is voted for by the public.

"This is for women's sport – and for women's sport heading in the right direction."

So proud of you, @bmeado9 👏pic.twitter.com/uFV0266Hud

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) December 21, 2022

Mead pipped gymnast Jessica Gadirova, curler Eve Muirhead, snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan, cricketing icon Ben Stokes and middle-distance runner Jake Wightman to the award.

Muirhead, who won Olympic gold this year, came third and Stokes, who starred on multiple occasions for England’s cricket teams this year, finished second.

"This Christmas there'll be little girls asking for a pair of football boots and it'll classed as normal. That's what makes us happiest."

Special words from a special person.

❤️ @JillScottJS8 pic.twitter.com/wVkbeTved7

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) December 21, 2022

With the Lionesses becoming the first England senior football team to win a major trophy since the men’s side lifted the World Cup in 1966, they were given the Team of the Year award after their EUROs triumph.

And head coach Wiegman was given the Coach of the Year after she guided the Lionesses to EUROs victory within a year of taking the job.

"I've been the lucky person, to work with these great football players and great human beings."

Well said, Sarina. 👊pic.twitter.com/94fd4jCgwZ

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) December 21, 2022

There was also an Unsung Hero award for Mike Alden, who set up the Park Knowle Football Club in Bristol a decade ago and has been involved with community football for 25 years.

Park Knowle FC has five disability football teams, veterans sides as well as girls’ teams and boys’ teams.

Alden, who has Brittle bone Disease and has broken nearly every bone in his body, prides himself on the mantra ‘nobody gets turned away’ from Park Knowle and stresses ‘if you want to join the club, you get to play’.

The Unsung Hero award recognises volunteers in sport making a difference in their communities. The other nominees were Rukhsana Hussain (Leicester), Nooh Omar Ibrahim (Cardiff), Mary O'Hagan (Ballyronan), Anna Pim (Belfast), Dave Thompson (Aberdeen), Helen Thornton (Ipswich) and Becca Todd (Bristol).